Black plate (121,1)
qSafety Chains
Safety chains must be used as a precautionary measure should the trailer become
unintentionally unhitched. They should cross under the trailer tongue and attach to the
hitch. Leave enough slack to allow full turns. Consult literature published by your trailer or
hitch manufacturer for more details.
WARNING
Make sure the safety chain is securely attached to both the trailer and the vehicle
prior to departure:
Towing a trailer without using a safety chain securely attached to both the trailer
and the vehicle is dangerous. If damage occurs to the coupling unit or hitch ball, the
trailer could wander into another lane and cause a collision.
qTrailer Lights
Trailer lights must comply with all federal, state, and local regulations. Equip your trailer
as required before towing it day or night.
CAUTION
Do not connect a trailer lighting system directly to the lighting system of your
Mazda. This may damage your vehicle's electrical system and lighting systems. Have
a recreational vehicle dealer or trailer rental agency connect the system, and inspect
the brake lights and turn signals yourself before each trip.
qTrailer Brakes
If the total trailer weight exceeds 450 kg (1,000 lb), trailer brakes are required. If your
trailer has brakes, make sure they comply with all federal, state, and local regulations.
WARNING
Do not connect a hydraulic trailer-brake system to your vehicle's brake system:
Connecting a hydraulic trailer-brake system directly to the vehicle brake system is
dangerous and will result in inadequate braking and possible injury.
qTrailer Towing Tips
lVerify that your Mazda maintains a near-normal attitude when a loaded or unloaded
trailer is connected. Do not drive if it has an abnormal front-up or front-down position.
Inspect for incorrect tongue load, worn suspension parts, and trailer overloading.
lMake sure the trailer is properly loaded and the cargo is secure to prevent it from
shifting.
lMake sure the mirrors conform to all government regulations. If they do not, install
required rear view mirrors appropriate for towing purposes.
Before Driving
Towing
3-49
CX-5_8CA5-EA-11L_Edition3 Page121
Friday, June 22 2012 3:45 PM
Form No.8CA5-EA-11L
Black plate (122,1)
The three main causes of vehicle-trailer accidents are driver error, excessive speed, and
improper trailer loading.
Before driving
lHave your cooling and braking system checked by an Authorized Mazda Dealer.lBefore starting out, inspect the operation of all vehicle and trailer lights and all vehicle-
to-trailer connections. Stop and re-inspect all lights and connections after driving a short
distance.
Driving
lYour Mazda will handle differently with a trailer in tow, so practice turning, backing,
and stopping in a traffic-free area.
lTake time to get accustomed to the extra weight and length.lAllow more room between your vehicle and the one in front because braking distance
increases with a trailer. For each 16 km/h (10 mph) of speed, allow at least one vehicle
and trailer length between your Mazda and the vehicle ahead.
lAvoid jerky starts or sudden acceleration.lAvoid sudden braking. It may cause loss of control and result in jackknifing, especially
so on wet or slippery roads.
lShift the shift lever to the D position when towing a trailer in hilly terrain or when
heavily loaded.
The D position will allow operating the vehicle without frequent shifting.
Lane changes and turning
Avoid quick lane changes, sudden turns, and tight turns. Slow down before turning to
avoid the need of sudden braking.
A turning trailer will make a tighter arc than the tow vehicle. Compensate with turns that
are larger than normal.
Passing
Plan well ahead to pass other vehicles, and provide plenty of room before changing lanes.
Crosswinds from passing vehicles, especially larger ones, and the effects of rough roads
will affect handling.
If swaying occurs, firmly grip the steering wheel and reduce speed immediately, but
gradually.
Steer straight ahead. If no extreme correction of steering or braking is made, the
combination of less speed and firm steering will result in stability.
Backing up
Backing a vehicle with a trailer requires practice and patience. Back slowly, and have a
helper outside at the rear of the trailer to reduce the risk of an accident.
To turn the trailer, place your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel and turn it in the
direction you want the trailer to go. Make only slight movements to prevent sharp or
prolonged turning.
3-50
Before Driving
Towing
CX-5_8CA5-EA-11L_Edition3 Page122
Friday, June 22 2012 3:45 PM
Form No.8CA5-EA-11L
Black plate (123,1)
Ascending a hill
Shift into a lower gear to reduce the possibility of overloading or overheating the engine, or
both.
Descending a hill
Shift into a lower gear and use engine compression as a braking effect.
WARNING
Always use lower gears to reduce speed:
Holding the brake pedal down too long or too frequently is dangerous as it could
cause the brakes to overheat and lose power, resulting in loss of control and a
serious accident. Use lower gears to help reduce speed. Pull off the road and allow
brakes to cool down whenever braking performance feels reduced.
Overheated engine
The extra weight of the trailer may strain the engine on hot days and on long or steep
upgrades.
If the temperature gauge indicates overheating, turn off the air conditioner, drive safely to
the side of the road, park off the right-of-way and wait for engine to cool. Refer to
Overheating (page 7-18).
Parking
Always make sure the tires of the trailer and the tow vehicle are blocked while parked.
Apply the parking brake firmly and put the transaxle in P.
Avoid parking on an incline, but if you must, follow these instructions:
1. Depress and hold down the brake pedal.
2. Have a helper put wheel blocks against the downhill side of all vehicle and trailer tires.
3. Then release the brake pedal slowly until the blocks bear the load.
lIf the grade is downhill, turn the steering wheel so that the front of the front tires face
the curb.
lIf it is uphill, face the rear of the front tires against the curb.
4. Firmly apply the parking brake.
5. Shift the transaxle into P, and stop the engine.
To restart after parking on an incline:
1. With the transaxle in P, start the engine. (Be sure to depress and hold the brake pedal.)
2. Shift into gear.
Before Driving
Towing
3-51
CX-5_8CA5-EA-11L_Edition3 Page123
Friday, June 22 2012 3:45 PM
Form No.8CA5-EA-11L
Black plate (148,1)
Seat belt reminder
NOTE
Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer to
deactivate or restore the belt reminder. Though
the belt reminder can be deactivated, doing so
will defeat the purpose of the system to warn
the driver and the front passenger in the event
that their seat belts are not fastened. For the
safety of the driver and front passenger, Mazda
recommends not deactivating the belt
reminder.
Front seat
If the vehicle is driven with the driver or
front passenger's seat belt unfastened, the
seat belt warning light illuminates and a
warning beep sounds.
NOTE
Some models do not have the seat belt
reminder function for the front passenger's
seat.
If the driver or front passenger's seat belt
is unfastened (only when the front
passenger seat is occupied) and the
vehicle is driven at a speed faster than
about 20 km/h (12 mph), the warning
light will flash and a beep sound will be
heard. After a short time, the warning
light stops flashing, but remains
illuminated, and the beep sound stops.
Until a seat belt is fastened or a given
period of time has elapsed, the beep sound
will not stop even if the vehicle speed
falls below 20 km/h (12 mph).NOTE
lThe warning light flashes and a beep sound
will be heard for about 6 seconds if the
driver's seat belt is not fastened when the
ignition is switched ON.
lIf a driver or front passenger's seat belt is
unfastened after the beep sound turns off
(warning light remains illuminated), and
the vehicle speed exceeds 20 km/h (12
mph), the warning light flashes and beep
sound activates again.
lPlacing heavy items on the front passenger
seat may cause the front passenger seat belt
warning function to operate depending on
the weight of the item.
lTo allow the front passenger seat weight
sensor to function properly, do not place
and sit on an additional seat cushion on the
front passenger seat. The sensor may not
function properly because the additional
seat cushion could cause sensor
interference.
lWhen a small child sits on the front
passenger seat, it is possible that the
warning light will not operate.
qDoor-Ajar Warning Light
This warning light illuminates when any
door or the liftgate is not securely closed.
Close the door or the liftgate securely
before driving the vehicle.
4-24
When Driving
Instrument Cluster and Display
CX-5_8CA5-EA-11L_Edition3 Page148
Friday, June 22 2012 3:45 PM
Form No.8CA5-EA-11L
Black plate (163,1)
On a steepdowngrade, downshifting
helps maintain safe speed and prolongs
brake life.
qDriving Tips
WARNING
Do not allow the vehicle to move in
reverse on an up-slope while the
selector lever is in a forward gear
position, or move forward on a down-
slope while the selector lever is in the
reverse position:
Otherwise, the engine will stop,
causing the loss of the power brake
and power steering functions, and
make it difficult to control the vehicle
which could result in an accident.
Passing
For extra power when passing another
vehicle or climbing steep grades, depress
the accelerator fully. The transaxle will
shift to a lower gear, depending on vehicle
speed.
Climbing steep grades from a stop
To climb a steep grade from a stopped
position:
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Shift to D or M1, depending on the
load weight and grade steepness.
3. Release the brake pedal while
gradually accelerating.
Descending steep grades
When descending a steep grade, shift to
lower gears, depending on load weight
and grade steepness. Descend slowly,
using the brakes only occasionally to
prevent them from overheating.
When Driving
Transaxle
4-39
CX-5_8CA5-EA-11L_Edition3 Page163
Friday, June 22 2012 3:45 PM
Form No.8CA5-EA-11L
Black plate (168,1)
qHeadlight High-Low Beam
Press the lever forward to turn on the high
beams.
Pull the lever back to its original position
for the low beams.
The headlight high-beam indicator light in
the instrument cluster illuminates while
the high beams are turned on.
High beam
Low beam
qFlashing the Headlights
To flash the headlights, pull the lever fully
towards you (the headlight switch does
not need to be on). The headlight high-
beam indicator light in the instrument
cluster illuminates simultaneously. The
lever will return to the normal position
when released.
OFF
Flashing
qHeadlight Levelingí
The number of passengers and weight of
cargo in the luggage compartment change
the angle of the headlights.
The angle of the headlights will be
automatically adjusted when turning on
the headlights.
A system malfunction or operation
conditions are indicated by a warning.
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on page
4-15.
qAdaptive Front Lighting System
(AFS)í
The adaptive front lighting system (AFS)
automatically adjusts the headlight beams
to the left or right in conjunction with the
operation of the steering wheel after the
headlights have been turned on and the
vehicle speed is about 2 km/h (2 mph) or
higher.
A system malfunction or operation
conditions are indicated by a warning.
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on page
4-15.
4-44
When Driving
íSome models.
Switches and Controls
CX-5_8CA5-EA-11L_Edition3 Page168
Friday, June 22 2012 3:45 PM
Form No.8CA5-EA-11L
Black plate (210,1)
qVariance Between Actual Road Conditions and Displayed Image
Some variance occurs between the actual road and the displayed road. Such variance in
distance perspective could lead to an accident. Note the following conditions that may
cause a variance in distance perspective.
When the vehicle is tilted due to the weight of passengers and load
When the vehicle rear is lowered, the object displayed on the screen appears farther than
the actual distance.
VarianceObject
4-86
When Driving
Rear View Monitor
CX-5_8CA5-EA-11L_Edition3 Page210
Friday, June 22 2012 3:46 PM
Form No.8CA5-EA-11L
Black plate (355,1)
CAUTION
ØBe careful not to allow the rubber
ring shown in the figure to be
scratched or damaged.
ØIf the rubber ring detaches,
reattach it before inserting a new
battery.
Rubber ring
Tires
For reasons of proper performance, safety,
and better fuel economy, always maintain
recommended tire inflation pressures and
stay within the recommended load limits
and weight distribution.
WARNING
Using Different Tire Types:
Driving your vehicle with different
types of tires is dangerous. It could
cause poor handling and poor
braking; leading to loss of control.
Except for the limited use of the
temporary spare tire, use only the
same type tires (radial, bias-belted,
bias-type) on all four wheels.
Using Wrong-Sized Tires:
Using any other tire size than what is
specified for your Mazda (page 9-7) is
dangerous. It could seriously affect
ride, handling, ground clearance, tire
clearance, and speedometer
calibration. This could cause you to
have an accident. Use only tires that
are the correct size specified for your
Mazda.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
6-35
CX-5_8CA5-EA-11L_Edition3 Page355
Friday, June 22 2012 3:47 PM
Form No.8CA5-EA-11L